A unique Egyptian baris found at Thonis-Heracleion

In an earlier blog, I discussed the site of Thonis-Heracleion at the mouth of the Nile (see: Heracleion, an ancient Greek port in Egypt). Excavations revealed many ships that had sunken in its harbor – 64 at the time of my writing in 2013.

Further underwater explorations have put the counter at 70 shipwrecks by now. Studying all these individual vessels is a lengthy process, and we must appreciate the tenacity and determination of the specialists involved to classify them into their appropriate times in history.

The latest excavations focused on what they call Ship 17, which has been dated to 664-332 BC. Please note that the year 332 BC coincides with Alexander’s arrival in Egypt.

As archaeologists uncovered 70% of the hull, this ship was prime study material. Interestingly, they were able to establish a link with Herodotus’ description of the Nile cargo boat called baris. Until now, they only could go by pictures of this type of vessel, but they had no archaeological confirmation (see also: Useful graffiti from ancient Egypt).

Herodotus tells us that this baris was constructed like brickwork, lined with papyrus. Its rudder passed through a hole in the keel.

We are getting very close to this appearance with Ship 17 at Thonis-Heracleion. The joints of the planks are staggered in such a way that they easily match that of bricks. The planking proper is held together by nearly two-meter-long tenons (a projection formed on the end of a timber for insertion into a mortise of the same dimension), passing through up to 11 strakes, which again match Herodotus’ words. The keel is twice as thick as the planking – another confirmation.

But then the study hits some inconsistencies about the length of the tenons and the reinforced frame.

Alexander Belov, who published the results of his research in his book Ship 17: a baris from Thonis-Heracleion, has provided an illustrative drawing of the main elements of this baris.

[Drawing copied from Science Alert (Belov, IJNA, 2013)]

He explains that Ship 17, which is 27 meters long, is bigger than the vessel described by Herodotus, who speaks of boats with long internal ribs. This statement did not make sense without any visual image until this shipwreck provided a matching construction.

It also became clear that the rudder could be fitted in one of the two holes in the stern, possibly chosen depending on the load of the cargo.

The bottom line is that the researchers must admit that Ship 17 resembles Herodotus’ description so closely that it is almost as if he had actually seen it.